Grant Thornton UK has appointed two partners in Manchester, Richard Stark from KPMG and Kate Finn from PwC, taking its partner appointments in the city to five in three months, the firm announced on 14 October 2026.
Stark joins as corporate finance advisory partner. He spent 20 years at KPMG, the last 16 in corporate finance advisory, where he led the North West team and advised on sales of businesses to trade buyers and private equity investors. Grant Thornton said he will build out its mergers and acquisitions capability in Manchester and nationally.
Finn joins as private capital audit partner after more than 20 years at PwC, leading external audits for listed, private, private equity-backed and international clients in sectors including aerospace and defence, retail, manufacturing, construction and travel.
Five in three months
The other three Manchester appointments were made between July and September 2026. Audit partner Zeenat Patel was promoted in July, having joined the firm as an associate in 2016. Steph Baker, who leads the firm’s national asset-based lending practice, was promoted in August. Sam Mills joined the turnaround and restructuring team in September with close to 20 years’ experience advising businesses in financial stress.
Pete Terry, North West practice lead at Grant Thornton UK, said: “Manchester has real energy and many of our clients are thriving. We’re growing our partnership to meet this demand and are putting the new expertise where clients need it most.”
Finn said: “The region’s private capital market is dynamic and full of ambitious businesses, and we are well placed to support them with our breadth of knowledge and experience.”
Grant Thornton’s North West practice has more than 500 professionals across its Manchester and Liverpool offices.
More appointments are in our people section. In the city’s investment sector, AJ Bell has reported record customer numbers.